During World War II the unit served as the 54th Coast Artillery Regiment Organized 26 March 1918 in the Regular Army from existing units in France as the Howitzer Regiment, 30th Brigade, Coast Artillery Corps, initially without weapons.

[1][2] Redesignated 7 August 1918 as the 44th Artillery (Coast Artillery Corps) with an authorized strength of 24 British-made 8-inch howitzers; served with the 32nd Brigade and 39th Brigade, including support of the IV Army Corps.

The regiment was organized in January 1918 in Maine and moved to France in March 1918, stationed at an artillery base, Operations and Training Center No.

In March 1919 the regiment returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Devens, Massachusetts.

References indicate this was the only African American coast artillery regiment in World War II that was not an antiaircraft unit.

[7] Activated 10 February 1941 at Camp Wallace, Texas with cadre from 76th and 77th Coast Artillery regiments (Antiaircraft) (Colored); moved to Camp Davis, North Carolina 22 May 1941, garrisoned Temporary Harbor Defenses of Wilmington.

The remainder of regiment remained in California until broken up into battalions as part of an Army-wide reorganization.

After 5 June 1944 the above units underwent changes as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 152nd Coast Artillery Group, disbanded 3 August 1944 at Camp Livingston, Louisiana[7] Reconstituted 28 June 1950 in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 54th Field Artillery Group Activated 17 January 1955 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina Redesignated 21 June 1958 as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 54th Artillery Group Inactivated 7 November 1969 in Vietnam 606th Coast Artillery Battalion disbanded 3 August 1944 at Camp Livingston, Louisiana[7] Reconstituted 28 June 1950 in the Regular Army; concurrently consolidated with the 54th Armored Field Artillery Battalion (active) (see ANNEX 1) and consolidated unit designated as the 54th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, an element of the 3d Armored Division Inactivated 1 October 1957 in Germany and relieved from assignment to the 3d Armored Division 49th Coast Artillery Battalion inactivated 20 January 1946 in the Philippine Islands[7] Consolidated 28 June 1950 with the 49th Field Artillery Battalion (active) (see ANNEX 2) and consolidated unit designated as the 49th Field Artillery Battalion, an element of the 7th Infantry Division.

Inactivated 1 July 1957 in Korea and relieved from assignment to the 7th Infantry Division 607th Coast Artillery Battalion disbanded 31 July 1944 at Camp Rucker, Alabama[7] Reconstituted 28 June 1950 in the Regular Army; concurrently consolidated with the 44th Field Artillery Battalion (active) (see ANNEX 3) and consolidated unit designated as the 44th Field Artillery Battalion, an element of the 4th Infantry Division.

[10] Lt. Col. Patrick W. Powers took command on 13 October 1962, receiving the colors from Dr. Finn J. Larsen, assistant secretary of the Army.

A gold color metal and enamel device 1+1⁄8 inches (2.9 cm) consisting shield, crest and motto of the coat of arms.

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 44th Coast Artillery Regiment on 1 February 1937.

Effective 1 September 1971, the insignia was redesignated for the 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.

The coat of arms was originally approved for the 44th Coast Artillery Regiment on 2 March 1929.

Effective 1 September 1971, the insignia was redesignated for the 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.